Never.

Well, you might like it. It's not very girly, and it is very funny.

2. Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas, 1995)



Sung by Pocahontas
Performed by Judy Kuhn
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Winner of the 1996 Best Original Song Oscar

Best Lyric: You can own the earth and still, all you'll own is earth until you can paint with all the colors of the wind.

Many cite Pocahontas as Disney's first disappointment of their Renaissance era, both financially and critically, and as the film that broke their hot streak that started with The Little Mermaid and ended with The Lion King. Even if you consider that to be true, it certainly isn't due to this song, which is the finest work that Alan Menken has ever done for Disney, and rightfully won him his fourth Oscar. Everything, from the melody, to the lyrics, to the animation, to the power of Judy Kuhn's voice, converges to create an otherworldly musical experience. The song cleverly compares and contrasts John Smith and Pocahontas, as she introduces him to the thrill of being one with nature, and urges him to learn from the Native Americans rather than leveling the forests and proceeding to do things his own way. Through metaphors such as painting with the wind, the voices of the mountain, and questions like how high does the sycamore grow, there is an urgency added to the song; how can John Smith settle Virginia without learning these things? The melody is masterfully intertwined throughout the film, particularly at the end of the film with the score piece "Farewell". As I said in my post about "If I Never Knew You" "Farewell" is the most beautiful piece of score Menken ever wrote and makes the ending of "Pocahontas" the best of the Renaissance and possibly the best in Disney's canon. While it may not have been an across the board success for the Mouse House, Pocahontas contains one of the best scores in Disney's canon, and this is its crowning achievement.

I will wait for the live action version. I think that will be funnier.

Dishonorable Mentions

A Guy Like You (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996)

Sung by Hugo, Victor and Laverne
Performed by Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, and Mary Wickes
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

This song makes no sense in the context of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and emphasizes the film's tonal inconsistency. Plus, it's forgettable and the gargoyles have no point. The worst song Alan Menken wrote for Disney.

Fixer Upper (Frozen, 2013)

Sung by the Trolls
Performed by Maia Wilson and Frozen Cast
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Really this should have been a good song. The lyrics aren't bad. But the melody is simplistic and childish, and the film really could have used a more thoughtful number around this point.

Once Upon a Time in New York City (Oliver and Company, 1988)

Performed by Huey Lewis
Music and Lyrics by Barry Mann and Howard Ashman

Really forgettable, and a disappointment for Howard Ashman. Foreshadows what is to come in the rest of the travesty that is Oliver and Company.

Perfect Isn't Easy (Oliver and Company, 1988)

Sung by Georgette
Performed by Bette Midler
Music and Lyrics by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman

One of the worst songs in Disney history sung by one of the most unlikable characters in Disney history in one of the worst movies in Disney history.

Streets of Gold (Oliver and Company, 1988)

Sung by Rita
Performed by Ruth Pointer
Music and Lyrics by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow

At this point, Oliver and Company has been reduced to a Saturday morning cartoon quality in terms of both its bland animation, formulaic storytelling, and amateurish sounding poppy music.

Good Company (Oliver and Company, 1988)

Sung by Jenny
Performed by Myhanh Tran
Music and Lyrics by Ron Rocha and Robert Minkoff

Not as bad as other songs in the film, but it's so syrupy sweet and I hate Jenny.

The Morning Report (The Lion King, 1994)

Sung by Zazu and Simba
Performed by Rowan Atkinson and Evan Saucedo
Music by Elton John Lyrics by Tim Rice

Makes no sense in the context of the film, and I'm really confused why it was added.

What Makes the Red Man Red? (Peter Pan, 1953)

Sung by the Indian Chief and the Indians
Performed by Candy Candido and the Mellomen
Music by Sammy Cahn Lyrics by Sammy Fain

I actually like the sound of this song, but the lyrics are offensive even to me.

Step in Time (Mary Poppins, 1964)

Sung by Bert and the Sweeps
Performed by Dick Van Dyke and Mary Poppins Cast
Music by Robert B. Sherman Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman

Mary Poppins is a great movie, but it runs way too long, thanks in part to this number that should have been excised it the earliest drafts of the film.

You must HATE Oliver and Company.

Also, no Goofy Movie songs?!?!

I have never seen it. Is it good? I tend to ignore Toon Studios output.

With a passion.

!!!

You should definitely see it. It has two great songs.

Zip A Dee Doo Dah, What's This? and This is Halloween definitely would have made the list had I remembered their exixtence.

1. I'll Make a Man Out Of You (Mulan, 1998)



Sung by Shang, Chien Po, Yao, Ling, Mushu and Mulan
Performed by Donny Osmond, Jerry Tondo, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe and Lea Salonga
Music by Matthew Wilder Lyrics by David Zippel

Best Lyric: Shang: We must be swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon!

Oh, god. Here we are at number 1. While it may not be the most famous or popular Disney song, I do wholeheartedly believe it is the best damn song Disney has ever written. The songs in Mulan are fine for the most part, but when this one starts, holy shit hits the fan. This is the ultimate workout song, it's the only workout song you need. It's just so motivational builds absolutely perfectly. The most iconic part (many people think this song is called "Be a Man" because of it) is the refrain where Shang assimilates the soldiers to forces of nature like the river, a typhoon, a fire and the dark side of the moon with the soldiers chanting "Be a man!" in between. This part just hits my soul deeply for some reason, it's just so fucking kick ass. Like I want to go kill some huns after listening to it. The lyrics are funny too (boy was I a fool in school for cutting gym!). As I'm writing this final post, I've listened to it three times in a row and now I'm on my fourth listen. I could probably sit here and press the replay button for the rest of the night. I think if the rest of Mulan was the quality of this song, it could have not just grossed as much as Aladdin and the Lion King, but won Best Picture at the Oscars. I mean, the link to the song is above, and if you don't listen to it right now, you are doing yourself a disservice. Really, this may be one of my favorite songs across all genres, it's just so damn fantastic.

YEAH BUDDY!

Great list, zwackerm. Despite the clear misplacement of many of them.

Love the LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS opening and the storytelling of Mulan feeling like she failed enough to get sent home (which everyone is afraid of at some point such as getting fired) and then proving herself on the pole is just great

Nice list

A Goofy Movie is one of my faves!!

I'll Make a Man out of You is excellent. I think Kiss the Gurl would be in my top 10 though.

Agreed.

Nice to see Colors of the Wind rank highly.

Outstanding #1

"I'll Make a Man Out Of You" is a decent song, but I feel Mulan wouldn't feature so high on any other list of Disney films or songs. zwackerm, is Mulan your favourite film?

No, I'm just giving credit where I feel it's due. I like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Hercules all better, and that's just the Renaissance era.

So...what's next?

No idea.

How about Top 100 Disney Foley Artists?

No.

Top 100 animated scenes?

What do you mean by scene exactly? Like a sequence?